INQUIRER Sports

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Ryan Anderson had 20 and 10 rebounds and Dwight Howard scored 25 as the short-handed Orlando Magic defeated the previously unbeaten Phoenix Suns 122-100 in the NBA on Wednesday.

Playing without injured Vince Carter and suspended Rashard Lewis, the Magic built a 23-point lead in the third quarter to pull away from the Suns.

Amare Stoudemire finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix, which was looking to match the 1984 team for the franchise’s best start through five games.

At Houston, Kobe Bryant scored 41 points and Andrew Bynum added 17 points and 17 rebounds as Los Angeles won in overtime for the second straight game, beating Houston, 103-102.

Carl Landry scored 20 points to lead six players in double figures for Houston. Luis Scola added 16 points and 13 rebounds and Chuck Hayes had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony woke up unbeaten Denver in a 44-point third quarter as the Nuggets routed the New Jersey Nets, 122-94, and continue their best start since 1985.

The win was the fifth straight for Denver, one shy of the 1985 start, and it handed winless New Jersey a fifth straight loss, tying the worst start in team history, set in 1996.

At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 12 points and 11 rebounds in his third game back in Minnesota since he was traded in 2007, helping Boston remain undefeated with a 92-90 victory over the Timberwolves.

Rajon Rondo scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter for the Celtics (6-0), who joined the Denver Nuggets as the only two teams in the league without a loss.

COMPLERE RESULTS: Orlando 122, Phoenix 100; Miami 93, Washington 89; Toronto 110, Detroit 99; Denver 122, New Jersey 94; Indiana 101, NY Knicks 89; Boston 92, Minnesota 90; LA Lakers 103, Houston 102 (OT); New Orleans 114, Dallas 107 (OT); Atlanta 113, Sacramento 105; Golden State 113, Memphis 105.